Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Kent Sugg has directed this “Royal
Shakespeare Company” version of Frank Baum’s classic with an eye to the
simplicity and whimsy of the piece. As a result, it comes off beautifully.

Christy Oberndorf performs
the iconic role of Dorothy Gale.A
sophomore at UNC, this artist is a little taller than our usual Dorothy.
Nevertheless… she has an endearing presence and a great set of pipes for her
singing of “Over the Rainbow.”

Deylan Dean, also a student
at UNC, is a lithe and limber Scarecrow.

L-R: Christy Oberndorf and Markus Warren

Hilariously bashful as the
Cowardly Lion, Markus Warren turns in another stellar performance. He’s the guy
you’ll remember for his stunning portrayal of Cinderella’s Prince in
Candlelight Playhouse’s smashing “Into the Woods.”

Stephen Bertles not only
choreographed the show, but also does a great job tapping his tin (ten?) toes
as The Tin Man.

Annie Dwyer’s
characterization of that nasty old dog-hating Miss Almira Gulch segues
seamlessly into the Wicked Witch of the West in a performance that makes one
see and hear why she is such a favorite in the musical theatre productions in
Colorado. Brava!

Patrick Sawyer does a great job with his take
on the psychic professor in Kansas and appears later as the at first terrifying,
and then humbled, Wizard in Oz.

TJ Mullen is hilarious as
the Munchkin Mayor! Matt LaFontaine and Sara Grover are just two of the super
talents posing behind green glasses and long green bangs in the Emerald City.

Judith Ernst and Linda
Morken’s costume design is a delight.

The live orchestra
conducted by Wendy Wheaton brings those old familiar tunes to life dynamically.

Scenic Designers Ranae Selmeyer and DJ Selmeyer have created a charming set that gives us as audience the illusion that Frank Baum’s classic tale is being played out in a pop-up story book. Great lighting (Shannon Johnson) and Music Direction (Nicholas Gilmore) enhance the experience.

You’re never too old to
fall in love again with “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s amazing how this show is able
to turn adult viewers who are young at heart into kids again. And that’s just
what Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s excursion from Kansas to OZ and back again does.
If there were one small criticism it would be that one wishes for more of the
visual with regard to the twister. Although Dorothy’s house is given a couple
of spins before she finds herself in Oz, the tornado is never visualized.

It’s the wonderful auditory
tornado described by the sensational instrumentation of the live orchestra that
takes us there.

One has to mention the
kitchen since this venue is a dinner playhouse. The dinner – in my case their signature Candlelight Grilled Prime Rib Au Jus-
was scrum diddly!

So in a nutshell…when you go
to Candlelight Dinner Playhouse you can expect superb theatre and an awesome
meal served by a great wait staff in a magnificent venue.

And it’s true that upon
entering the theatre you’ll feel just like Dorothy coming in off the plains and
entering OZ.

Spoiler Alert: Your experience at Candlelight could be so enjoyable you don't wish to go home.